Hammers News

West Ham look set to back Graham Potter with a sensational striker move once sufficient funds are raised through sales after the Jhon Duran debacle but Spurs are a problem.

West Ham had Jhon Duran lined up as their much-needed dynamic young striker signing last summer.

That was after David Sullivan admitted the Hammers wanted Dominic Solanke but could not compete with Tottenham Hotspur’s huge offer.

West Ham and Tottenham face off this Sunday with signing a striker a top priority for both again this summer.

The fact the Hammers and Spurs are playing to avoid being the worst team in the Premier League outside the bottom three is all the evidence needed on that front.

West Ham and Spurs want new striker – yet again

It could have been so different for West Ham, though, had they made different choices.

Aston Villa were prepared to accept £45m from West Ham for Duran last summer, according to reports at the time.

Instead Tim Steidten elected to spend that figure signing untested Brazilian teen Luis Guilherme and ageing, injury-prone striker Niclas Fullkrug.

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The rest, as they say, is history and West Ham fans don’t need reminding how things have worked out all three players since.

Although the story didn’t end there.

In January West Ham confirmed claims they made a stunning £57m bid for Duran – a club record.

Cynics among the Hammers fanbase – of which there are many, and justifiably so – felt the move was another example of ‘phantom bids and faux ambition’.

Mega rich Saudi side Al-Nassr – the club of Cristiano Ronaldo fame – ended up signing Duran instead for around £8m more. Although the Colombian’s wages there are on a level few clubs in world football can compete with, let alone the Hammers.

It is that whopping Duran bid which has seen fans question West Ham’s claims that they are at their PSR limit ahead of a huge summer window for Graham Potter.

West Ham explained the Duran bid and PSR situation last month.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has also questioned West Ham’s PSR claims.

Leading journalist David Ornstein has called West Ham’s bluff over their summer budget too, claiming they will be active.

West Ham back in for striker they snubbed to go all in for Duran

It’s important to note that West Ham have not said they won’t be making signings.

On the contrary, the Hammers insist they will be backing Potter – but must cut their cloth accordingly due to PSR, no different to the likes of moneybags Newcastle and Villa.

Even Tottenham, the most profitable club in the top flight, may have to sell to buy due to a PSR quirk – as reported by The Telegraph this week.

This season has proved there is plenty of deadwood to shift at West Ham – and Spurs.

As far as the Hammers are concerned it will be all about fetching decent fees for as many as possible to build up Potter’s kitty.

There was good news on that front last night as news emerged that West Ham are in live talks to seal a first summer transfer.

Hammers reignite Boniface move but Spurs could ruin everything

Now a move for a striker West Ham snubbed to go all in for Duran is back on but Spurs could ruin everything.

It seems the Hammers do have every intention of backing Potter once money comes in from sales – with Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta – if he beats spot-fixing charges – and a host of others set to be shipped out.

Ironically Tottenham have been linked with Jarrod Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta and even Edson Alvarez in recent weeks.

It’s been reported Spurs chief Daniel Levy thinks he cant take advantage of West Ham’s financial situation – despite there being an unofficial transfer embargo between the two rivals amid frosty boardroom relations dating back to 2015.

Last year it was reported West Ham were lining up a £50m bid for Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.

The move never happened as Victor Boniface stayed at Bayer Leverkusen – and actually helped knock West Ham out of the Europa League.

Boniface is exactly what Potter needs at West Ham

When West Ham bid for Duran in January, it was reported Boniface and Evan Ferguson were their back-up options.

Al-Nassr played the Hammers like a flute by feigning a move for Bonfiace themselves – even agreeing a £43m deal.

That is not expensive for a striker of 24-year-old Boniface’s talents.

The Saudi side left West Ham without either striker and a loan deal was done for Ferguson instead.

Now it’s been claimed by talkSPORT sources – as also reported by BuliNews in Germany – that West Ham are back in for Boniface.

But Levy could spoil the move as it has been stated that the West Ham or Tottenham are the ‘most likely’ destinations for Boniface this summer.

Boniface has 72 goals in 178 games in his senior career so far.

The powerful and pacy Nigerian possesses all the attributes the Irons are missing up front. And at 24, he should have his best years ahead of him.

West Ham fans will be thinking this is much more like it.

Whether they can see off Tottenham, especially if they secure Champions League football by winning the Europa League, is another matter entirely.

West Ham fans are angry enough as it is this season but now the club’s board have poked the bear ahead of the clash with bitter rivals Spurs.

West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur fans need little excuse to have a pop at their owners.

A competition between the London rivals over who has more disdain for their respective boards would be a close run thing.

In fact there were rare scenes this week when West Ham and Tottenham fans came together online to bash their owners ahead of a derby they’ve given a novel new nickname.

There is no love lost between West Ham and Spurs – on the terraces, pitch or at boardroom level.

So there’s plenty riding on this Sunday’s Premier League clash at the London Stadium.

West Ham board face fan fury over Spurs ticket farce

West Ham boss Graham Potter is desperate for any kind of win having overseen just three of them in his 15 games so far.

Ange Postecoglou has bigger fish to fry after Tottenham put one foot in the Europa League final with a 3-1 win over Bodo-Glimt.

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After the pathetic collapse from 2-1 up with six minutes to go to lose 3-2 at Brighton, the Hammers need to give their supporters something to shout about.

Leapfrogging Tottenham in the race to avoid being the worst team in the Premier League outside the bottom three would be a good way to start.

Well now the owners have certainly given the Hammers faithful something to shout about.

Because the West Ham board face fan fury over a Spurs ticket farce that could see swathes of empty seats at the London Stadium.

The Stratford ground is already like a library right now. Which is hardly surprising given West Ham have won a dismal 13 of their last 53 league games since January 2024.

Just like at Tottenham, resentment from fans towards the owners has bubbled back to the surface this season.

Broken pledge could see empty seats at London Stadium

And it threatens to reach new levels for what is one of the most important games of the season in terms of rivalry.

Hammers insider Sean Whetstone has revealed that the board have failed to honour a pledge over ticketing.

It says everything about the apathy surrounding West Ham at the moment that tickets are still available for the game.

But the reason why has enraged some of the club’s most loyal fans.

Whetstone has revealed that company P1 Travel are once again selling tickets for the clash against Tottenham for cheaper than West Ham supporters or Claret Members can buy them.

Providing screenshot of his discovery, Whetstone reveals that P1 Travel are selling London Stadium Band 4 tickets for £59 plus a booking fee.

Meanwhile West Ham Claret Members must pay £65 plus a booking fee while general sale price is £70 plus booking fee.

“The club previously said they wouldn’t allow this to happen again!” Whetstone said.

His post was flooded with angry reactions from West Ham fans.

It should perhaps come as no surprise then that Whetstone went on to reveal there are still over 1,500 tickets unsold for a derby which usually sells out comfortably weeks in advance.

Over 1,500 seats empty for West Ham vs Spurs derby

“As of 10pm on Thursday night there are are still 1,575 tickets for sale West Ham’s website for Spurs game this Sunday,” Whetstone added.

The owners are risking losing any goodwill gained by West Ham performing a major U-turn over concessions and ticket prices just over two months ago.

Just when the team really needs the fans behind them for a big grudge match, the board have further antagonised a fanbase they desperately need to be purchasing season tickets before the deadline next month.

Tottenham fans will relish seeing empty seats and rolling out the ‘your ground’s too big for you’ chant.

But even the most hardcore Spurs fan will surely side with the Hammers over this particular issue. And that’s saying something.

West Ham is not a happy camp right now, inside or outside the dressing toom, but beating bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur would certainly help build some bridges.

West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur share plenty in common this season.

The Hammers and Spurs are among the biggest underachievers in Europe’s top leagues, let alone in the Premier League.

West Ham and Tottenham even have pathetic collapses against Brighton in common.

So there may be no love lost between the London rivals, but they certainly know how the other is feeling right now.

Tottenham do have the Europa League up their sleeve as a potential season saver, though, while West Ham’s campaign has lacked any jeopardy since January.

Saving face not bragging rights in West Ham vs Spurs

Now the two sides meet at the London Stadium, dubious bragging rights are at stake for the Premier League’s 16th and 17th placed sides. Although it’s more a case of saving face.

West Ham and Tottenham players should need no extra motivation for this particular derby.

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Kyle Walker says Spurs vs West Ham was more intense than Arsenal when he played in north London.

It’s clear the Hammers are not a happy camp as their struggles go from bad under Julen Lopetegui to worse under Graham Potter.

Supporters are already questioning Potter after just three wins from his first 15 games and no sign of any major improvement to the style of play.

Striker Niclas Fullkrug called the team “s—” and questioned his teammates’ mentality, drawing criticism and a place on the bench from his manager.

The German refused to back down, though, as Fullkrug sent a new warning to Potter after West Ham’s surrender at Brighton.

There’s discontent in the stands at Tottenham too – towards both the manager and the owners.

Ange Postecoglou looks set to leave Tottenham even if they win the Europa League – and thereby end a long trophy drought while qualifying for the Champions League.

The Aussie has to juggle his team for the Hammers clash as it is sandwiched by the two-legged semi-final against Bodo-Glimt.

So there will be few excuses for Potter and West Ham going into such a big game.

Star back in training to face Spurs after Potter ‘disagreement’

Especially with a near fully fit squad bar long-term absentees Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio.

Because a West Ham star is back in training to face Spurs after a ‘disagreement’ with Potter.

Last week it was claimed Edson Alvarez pulled out of the game to face Southampton amid a disagreement with the manager.

Immediately after the game Alvarez sent a cryptic post on social media which suggested cracks were appearing in his relationship with the 49-year-old Englishman.

The leak from a source close to West Ham’s owners claimed Alvarez had a fall-out out with Potter as he withdrew from the Southampton game citing he had a bad back.

That’s despite Potter not naming Alvarez among any injury concerns he had ahead of the match.

Alvarez back to face Spurs after being liked with them

Alvarez was also absent for the Brighton collapse.

It has since been claimed the 27-year-old may have played his last game for the Hammers.

Interestingly, in the meantime Alvarez has been linked with a shock summer move to Spurs.

If there is any truth to that particular claim, then the Mexican could be auditioning against West Ham’s rivals this weekend.

That’s after video footage showed Alvarez back in training ahead of the game which West Ham and Spurs fans have given a new nickname.

West Ham’s media team have shared video footage from Rush Green which shows Alvarez is back in full training.

In fact the midfielder can be heard barking orders at teammates, even telling Fullkrug to pass the ball more quickly.

Whether Alvarez goes straight back into the team to face Tottenham remains to be seen.

Many fans have pointed out that the midfielder, for his many faults, would have closed down the scorers of both of Brighton’s long-range goals in the 3-2 loss at Brighton.

West Ham face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend with both Graham Potter and Ange Postecoglou under intense pressure.

The only solace for West Ham’s miserable season has been that Spurs are just as bad.

In actual fact Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side have been worse when it comes to Premier League losses with 19, three more than the Hammers.

That’s the worst record in the top flight outside the bottom three.

West Ham are hoping to give fans some rare joy by adding another to Tottenham’s loss column this Sunday, leapfrogging them in the table in the process.

Under pressure Graham Potter could certainly do with it having managed just three wins from his first 15 games in charge.

Season to forget and regret for West Ham and Spurs

Unlike the Hammers, Spurs do of course have the Europa League as a potential season saver.

It seems highly unlikely that would be enough to save Postecoglou’s job as their manager, though.

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Ironically, Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady wanted Postecoglou before he ended up at Tottenham.

Brady predicted the Aussie would take the Premier League by storm.

It was recently stated that Brady’s influence at West Ham has never been greater now.

She and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy used to be good friends.

But there are frosty relations between the two boardrooms since the battle for the Olympic Stadium.

Those relations may diminish further after new information came to light.

While Postecoglou has managed to cling on to his job despite overseeing one of Tottenham’s worst ever Premier League campaigns, Julen Lopetegui was sacked by West Ham.

When Lopetegui was on the brink at the turn of the year, reports claimed Levy was was close to sacking Postecoglou too.

It was claimed Spurs put pressure on West Ham to activate their agreement with Potter as they considered him to replace Postecoglou.

Now we might know why if Levy was playing the long con.

And he is the manager who forced West Ham into hiring Potter because he thinks he’s set for ‘bigger’ Spurs.

Potter’s start to life at West Ham has been so bad he’s taken the team backwards from 13th to 17th.

As a result many fans are torn over whether the Hammers should hold their hands up and look for yet another new boss in the summer or give Potter the transfer window and next season to turn things around.

Manager snubbed West Ham to hold out for “bigger” Spurs

At Tottenham, the vast majority of supporters are in agreement about their manager with Postecoglou set to depart even if they win the Europa League – and thereby qualify for the Champions League too.

Before appointing Potter, the Hammers held talks with a number of other candidates.

One of those was their former assistant coach Edin Terzic as well as the likes of Max Allegri, Paulo Fonseca and Christophe Galtier.

German Terzic was described as the tactical brain behind West Ham’s memorable Farewell Boleyn campaign under Slaven Bilic.

Since then he has become an accomplished young manager in his own right, leading Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season.

Now a free agent, Terzic held talks with West Ham about replacing Lopetegui.

That came after Terzic was sounded by Hammers chief David Sullivan and Tim Steidten following West Ham’s 4-1 defeat at Spurs in October.

It has been claimed since then that the Hammers snubbed the chance to hire Terzic, preferring Potter instead after a recommendation from Brady.

But now Sport Bild in Germany claim it was Terzic who actually snubbed West Ham.

And the reason will enrage Hammers fans.

The outlet states Terzic felt West Ham were “too small” for him and that he has a strong chance of succeeding Postecoglou if and when “bigger” Tottenham dispenses of his services.

Ex Hammers coach Terzic thinks he has a chance of Spurs job

The staggering claims were made in today’s printed edition of Sport Bild, which also states Terzic has intentionally kept himself open so he is “immediately ready to talk” if and when Postecoglou departs.

Looking back around the time West Ham hired Potter, it certainly tallies with reports that were published.

West Ham fans will not be impressed by the snub – or the inference Spurs are a bigger club than them.

There is of course no guarantee Terzic would have done a better job than Potter.

But many will argue he couldn’t have done much worse.

Terzic may think Tottenham are bigger than the club he used to represent – but whether Levy sees him as big enough for them is another matter entirely.

There is usually very little love lost between fans of West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur but ahead of this weekend’s clash their own clubs have managed to unite them.

After their respective rivalries with Millwall and Arsenal, West Ham and Spurs is a fierce as it gets in London.

It is a rivalry which has grown plenty in the Premier League era.

With West Ham and Tottenham fans living and working amongst one other, bragging rights are a big deal.

The Hammers have been able to gloat about winning a trophy for the last two years and even have a specific song about it designed to taunt Spurs.

From lasagne-gate through to fighting over the Olympic Stadium and fall-outs between the two boardrooms, it’s really quite simple – West Ham and Tottenham don’t like each other.

Spurs and West Ham fans unite in fury at their own clubs

England star Kyle Walker made a major claim about Tottenham’s games against West Ham which proves that point.

They may be sworn enemies, but this season the Irons and Tottenham share a lot in common.

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The London rivals are comfortably among the biggest underachievers in any top European league.

West Ham sit 17th with four games to go of a miserable season in which Graham Potter seems to be taking them backwards.

They are just one point behind Spurs – who have lost more games than any other team besides the bottom three.

Fans of the two clubs are always desperate to see their team get one over on the other.

Spurs hold the bragging rights at the moment after a 4-1 win over West Ham in the reverse fixture – which saw all hell break loose as Mohammed Kudus was sent off and subsequently banned for five games.

With little but pride to play for in Sunday’s game at the London Stadium, though, the situation in the respective boardrooms has been making all the headlines.

And there are rare scenes as Spurs and West Ham fans unite in fury at their own clubs while giving the derby a new nickname.

West Ham’s owners have once again braced fans that the club is at its PSR limit ahead of the summer transfer window.

It is clear for all to see the Hammers and Spurs need to overhaul their sides after such woeful campaigns.

But it has been reported by The Telegraph too that Tottenham could see spending restricted due to PSR.

Hammers and Tottenham fans give derby a new nickname

Like West Ham, it is claimed Tottenham must ‘sell-to-buy’ with a crucial summer looming large as an extended window opens on June 1.

Spurs’ net transfer debt of £279 million means a tough window of trading lies ahead for Ange Postecoglou or his replacement says Matt Law.

Supporters of both clubs have been reacting furiously to the news.

It has given them common ground ahead of the London Stadium clash, which has been handed the new nickname ‘El Crapico’ by some supporters.

The resentment between fans of both clubs and their board has seen Spurs and West Ham supporters finally agree on something.

Big Hammers account West Ham Central dubbed the fixture ‘El Crapico’ getting 3,000 likes from fans of both clubs.

That came in a post which shows the form of both teams in the last eight games.

Supporters of both the Hammers and Spurs remarked they thought it was two Welsh teams playing one another.

West Ham vs Spurs is ‘Welsh Cup Final’ due to form table

“It’s an advert in Welsh,” said one fan.

“Welsh Cup Final,” another added.

A Spurs supporter said: “West Ham are a better side than us.”

Another Tottenham fan added: “West Ham will win this one at home and second sandwiched between Europa league game.”

“Sounds like two Welsh towns,” said another Tottenham fan whose handle is ‘Balance Sheet over Team Sheet Levy Out’.

“I thought it was a Welsh derby then,” another added.

“Not sure which fanbase turns more toxic when they lose. Pretty sure you’ll beat us though to be fair,” a Spurs supporter said.

“West Ham will hammer us. Be a easy 3/4 goal difference,” said another Tottenham fan.

A fellow Spurs fan agreed, saying: “Be 100% certain that you get the win. There is no way you don’t win this. It will be easy for you.”

“Dark days for our clubs,” said another.

Just like Tottenham, West Ham’s fans are convinced they’ll lose.

One stated: “Deccers (Declan Rice) money wasted.”

A West Ham supporter said: “Easy Spurs win this.”

‘Dark times for both our clubs’

“Pretty sure Ange said these results would change when the injured players came back….we’ve just got worse,” one Spurs fans admitted.

“Both managers can find a way to simultaneously lose this one,” another supporter said.

A fellow Tottenham fan highlighted one thing which proved how bad things are for both clubs.

He said: “Not sure which games worse quality between this and Southampton and Leicester. Says it all really.”

“They’ll both manage to lose,” another supporter said.

A Tottenham fan added: “You’ve can add another W to Potter record when you play us. We are diabolical under this clown of a manager. I say 3-1 West Ham.”

For fans of the two London rivals to be in such agreement is quite some achievement from messrs Daniel Levy and David Sullivan.

But with it being widely reported Postecoglou will be leaving Spurs regardless this summer, the game feels massive for Potter at West Ham.

After just three wins from his first 15 games, the pressure is on the ex Chelsea boss.

And there will be no hiding places for the players or either manager in this one, El Crapico or not.

West Ham welcome bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the London Stadium this weekend with Graham Potter and Ange Postecoglou under serious pressure.

It is the lowest West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur have been at the same time when meeting in the Premier League.

So the stakes have rarely been higher.

Especially with Ange Postecoglou’s job very much on the line at Tottenham and Graham Potter already feeling the heat after a disastrous first 15 games at the Hammers helm.

West Ham are officially the worst team outside the bottom three right now, sitting 17th in the table.

But no side outside the relegated clubs have lost more games than the 19 16th-placed Tottenham have given up.

One point separates two of the biggest underachievers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Speculation is rife Postecoglou will be sacked this summer – even if Tottenham add to West Ham’s misery by winning the Europa League to rescue their season.

Not only would that end Tottenham’s long trophy drought but it would also see them qualify for the Champions League too.

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Spurs can save season but West Ham have no such luxury

West Ham have no such jeopardy left in their season with Potter’s job coming into question after less than four months.

The Hammers have won just three of the Englishman’s 15 games so far and hit a new low in the 3-2 collapse against Brighton which will be familiar to Spurs fans.

Tottenham threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Brighton earlier this season.

West Ham did things a different way at the weekend, coming from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 with six minutes of normal time remaining – only to somehow conspire to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

There is absolutely no love lost between the Hammers and Tottenham – on or off the pitch.

Both clubs have bigger rivals in the shape of Millwall and Arsenal.

There is no denying this particular rivalry seems to grow in its intensity with every passing season.

It sounds like it may be too late for Postecoglou with Daniel Levy’s axe already sharpened.

But Potter must listen to England star Kyle Walker about Spurs if he wants a future at West Ham.

When West Ham brought Potter in to replace the hapless Julen Lopetegui, they were expecting at least a top 10 finish.

Lopetegui had left the side in 13th place.

Yet Potter has somehow managed to take West Ham backwards. The Hammers are on course to suffer the indignation of finishing below Spurs during one of their worst ever top flight seasons.

Postecoglou will pay the price by being replaced at Tottenham this summer by all accounts.

But it also stands to reason that Potter would not be retained this summer had Hammers chief David Sullivan got his way and handed him the initial six-month deal he had planned until interest from Everton forced his hand on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Postecoglou going but Potter also feeling Hammers heat

On the flip side, a win against Spurs can be the catalyst for Potter to turn things around in east London.

Until Potter snapped after West Ham’s pathetic collapse at his old club Brighton, many felt the 49-year-old has been too accepting of low standards and mediocrity from his players.

That’s why West Ham fans celebrated striker Niclas Fullkrug speaking out and calling the team “s—” following a dismal draw against Southampton.

Fullkrug has spoken out again with a warning to Potter following West Ham’s defeat to Brighton.

It was his latest attempt to rally his teammates with Spurs up next.

And this is a game Potter can’t afford a meek surrender from his team.

Just ask former Tottenham defender Walker.

Potter must listen to Walker about Spurs if he wants West Ham future

The England star, on loan at AC Milan from Man City, has been discussing the biggest rivalries he has played in on BBC 5 Live – which you can see below.

And former Tottenham star Walker said facing West Ham always felt a much fiercer and more real rivalry than when Spurs played Arsenal.

“As daft as it sounds, I felt like Tottenham vs West Ham felt more passionate than Tottenham vs Arsenal for me when I was playing.

“It just felt more.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIuD0R6MoOI

That is sure to raise a few eyebrows, especially among Tottenham fans who seem to want to play the rivalry down through an arrogant stance that they are the superior club.

The league table suggests they are right now – by a solitary point – in this most miserable of campaigns for both clubs.

It won’t be enough to save Postecoglou, but this is Potter’s first game against Spurs as West Ham boss and it can go a long way to changing the narrative building around him ahead of a huge summer.

So he needs to heed Walker’s words and make sure West Ham are on it from the off and for the entire match.

There can be no Jekyll and Hyde first and second half displays or insipid surrenders in this one.

Potter’s stock phrase after every match has been: ‘We’ve been competitive in all the games’.

That simply won’t wash with Hammers fans if they lose at home to Tottenham.

West Ham United need a big result against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, it really is as simple as that.

Graham Potter has endured a truly disastrous first three months in charge of West Ham.

The Hammers head coach has failed to oversee any kind of genuine progress since Julen Lopetegui left the London Stadium.

Tomas Soucek called out his West Ham teammates on Saturday for their weak mentality, and Potter absolutely has to find a way of getting a tune out of them between now and the end of the season.

Sure, the Hammers will not be getting relegated this term, but there are standards that need to be set now so that there is genuine optimism heading into the start of the 2025/26 season.

Potter has approached the job at West Ham with more focus on performances rather than results.

He said as much after we lost 2-1 to Chelsea in February (WHUFC.com).

He has been speaking about us like we’re a plucky underdog who’ve just been promoted to the Premier League.

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Now he will find out the hard way that West Ham fans expect more than the back four just knocking the ball about amongst each other with no incisiveness going forward.

Graham Potter has got one very important thing so wrong at West Ham

The way that Potter has bleated on about positives and a long rebuild on the horizon for three months now with no tangible improvements is simply not acceptable.

He needs to listen to what Craig Bellamy said about the West Ham fans years ago:

“And do you know they get a bad rep the (West Ham) fans. But they were brilliant.

“They’re the most knowledgeable fans of all of them I ever played for, you couldn’t kid ’em.

“Do you know you see people go around kicking people and I’ve seen fans cheer like ‘Yea but he has a go’. He has a go at what?! He gives the ball away every time.

“There (West Ham) they won’t accept that. Because you’ve got to be a good player as well. ‘We expect you to have a go, we pay money for you to have a go, but what are you like on the ball and also what are you like when we’re not happy, do you still have the balls to go and get the ball?’

“And if you do then they’ll have you, they’re with you then. And I loved that about them, they weren’t kidded on because they’ve watched too many great players down the years, they’ve been brought up on Bobby Moore and all that type of stuff.“

We don’t demand consistent success, just a manager and a team of players who are willing to give everything to the club.

Potter seems to think that he had a free hit up until the end of the season when taking over at the London Stadium.

This ‘progress takes time’ narrative angers me. Vitor Pereira has done alright at Wolves hasn’t he! Also, that attitude seeps into the players’ mindsets and there is no accountability for underperforming.

And he will find out the hard way this weekend that the fans very much expect to see results now, or at the very least maximum effort with a clear footballing philosophy.

Tottenham game could be make or break for Graham Potter at West Ham

I’m not suggesting that Potter will get sacked if we lose to Spurs, but a poor, toothless performance may well really turn the fans against him.

There are already some who are questioning whether he is the right man for the job, and he looked like a beaten man after we lost to Brighton on Saturday.

I can’t help but feel like those emotions he showed when speaking to reporters were somehow not genuine. It was almost like Potter realised he had to show some emotion because the West Ham fans will not sit back and accept the ‘nicely, nicely’ approach.

It won’t work with the current group of players at the club either.

The performance from Potter’s players against Tottenham on Sunday will tell us a lot. If he isn’t able to get them pumped up for that game, then he might not be the man we need at the helm.

With Spurs and Newcastle both eyeing Jarrod Bowen, Graham Potter has been forced to respond to growing concerns that West Ham may be left with no choice but to cash in on their talisman.

Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a big-money move to West Ham’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and mega-rich Newcastle United this week.

And, worryingly, not for the first time.

West Ham actually beat Newcastle to the £20m signing of Bowen on deadline day of the January window back in 2020.

Steve Bruce has since admitted he thought he had Bowen in the bag for the Magpies.

But the Hammers managed to get the deal done and Bowen has been the club’s best, most important and reliable player ever since.

Already a certified West Ham legend well on the way to being the club’s leading all-time Premier League goalscorer, it has been disconcerting for fans to see fresh links of a potential move to Tottenham or Newcastle.

Spurs and Newcastle want Hammers star Bowen

Likes both Spurs and the Geordies, West Ham fans are well used to seeing their best players leave when they perform at a consistently high level down the years.

Declan Rice and Harry Kane being exhibits A and B in most recent years for the Hammers and Tottenham.

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But with Bowen it has always felt different.

Not least because he signed a new SEVEN-YEAR Hammers deal only last season and has said he wants to retire at West Ham.

Last summer it was claimed by top sources in the north that Newcastle were preparing a big money move for Bowen. It was stated he is Eddie Howe’s top target.

That never materialised.

And West Ham gave short shrift to reports of a Tottenham approach too, telling their rivals they’d have to cough up £150m for the board to even consider it.

Amid fan fury that Spurs had even had the temerity to ask the question, West Ham responded emphatically on Spurs’ Bowen links.

Fast forward a year and with West Ham at their limit for PSR and in desperate need of sales.

The club’s owners have made no secret of the fact players need to be sold this summer to raise funds for signings.

West Ham insisted again Bowen is not for sale after recent links to Liverpool and Newcastle.

Supporters were understandably concerned, though, by the source of a new claim that Spurs are intending to try and sign Bowen this summer.

Because it came from a top Hammers insider who counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts.

Spiky Potter responds to fears West Ham have to sell Bowen

And it was claimed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is planning to try and take advantage of West Ham’s financial issues.

Now the potential sale of the club’s talisman to Tottenham or Newcastle has been officially addressed by the manager himself.

Spiky Graham Potter has responded to fears West Ham have to sell Bowen amid the interest from Spurs and Newcastle.

In what was a rather awkward press conference, Potter was put on the spot about Bowen by West Ham-supporting reporter Ian Abrahams.

He got straight to the point with Potter, asking whether he and West Ham will have to cash in on Bowen in order to fund a big rebuild, or whether he plans to build the team around the England attacker.

Potter initially said he ‘wouldn’t answer the question even if he could’.

But when pressed, the Hammers boss seemed pretty emphatic.

“Even if I could answer that, do you think I would answer that question?” Potter responded incredulously in the press conference.

To which Abrahams told Potter to be ‘honest’.

“I’m not that honest!” Potter quipped before eventually opening up to the question, which was clearly driven by this week’s rumours of the interest from Tottenham and Howe’s side.

Potter pressed for ‘honest’ response on Bowen future

“Look of course Jarrod is our captain, he’s fantastic, we want him to be here for the next 10 years.

“We want him to finish his career enjoying his football with us, achieving everything he wants as an individual and with a team that I think he’s got a real affinity towards.”

So there you have it West Ham, Spurs and Newcastle fans – Potter is fully planning on building his team around Bowen and not with the money he gets from selling him.

The proof of the pudding will, as always, be in the eating.

And a decision may be taken out of Potter’s hands if either club come knocking with a massive offer.

Although Sullivan and the board know they would have a revolting fanbase on theirs if Bowen is sold. Especially to Tottenham.

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen is once again being linked with a big money move to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur – but this time there is cause for concern.

West Ham fans are used to seeing their best players leave down the years.

But not for bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur ever since an unofficial transfer embargo sparked by Daniel Levy pulling the plug at the 11th hour on Emmanuel Adebayor joining the Hammers.

That was the start of frosty relations between the Tottenham and West Ham boardrooms which was made icier by the fallout of a spying scandal court case.

Yet there have been regular rumours over the last year or so that Tottenham are interested in a number of West Ham stars.

Spurs linked with West Ham captain Bowen – again

First it was Jarrod Bowen last year and since then Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta have also been linked with Tottenham.

In fact back in June last year, it was claimed Tottenham made an enquiry about signing Bowen at the ‘highest levels’.

That suggested Levy had spoken to West Ham majority owner David Sullivan about a shock transfer for the club’s talisman.

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It was stated at the time the Lilywhites saw that approach swiftly rejected by the Hammers, who told their rivals they would have to stump up £150m for West Ham to even consider the sale.

Amid fan fury that Spurs had even had the temerity to ask the question, West Ham responded emphatically on the Bowen bid.

“It is delusional rubbish Spurs could sign Jarrod,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News at the time.

“Let me make this perfectly clear. He is not for sale.”

Fast forward a year and with West Ham at their limit for PSR and in desperate need of sales.

The Hammers have made no bones about the fact players need to be sold this summer to raise funds for signings.

But speaking exclusively to Hammers News after fresh links to Liverpool earlier this month, West Ham’s owners insisted again Bowen is not for sale.

Now it’s being claimed Tottenham want to try again for West Ham’s skipper this summer.

Staggering Bowen to Spurs source should worry West Ham

The staggering Bowen to Spurs claim looks laughable but the source should worry West Ham.

On seeing the latest claims, most Hammers fans have scoffed at the idea.

For a start, Bowen signed a new SEVEN-YEAR Hammers deal only last season and said he wants to retire at West Ham.

Even Tottenham fans would find it hard to image Bowen sitting down with his West Ham fanatic father-in-law-to-be Danny Dyer and telling him that he is signing for one of their biggest rivals.

Gone are the days the Hammers would entertain selling a key player to Tottenham.

But the source of this new Bowen claim should deeply concern West Ham supporters.

Hammers insider Sean Whetstone counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady as his big contacts at West Ham.

Whetstone has previously revealed that West Ham are bracing themselves for £80m losses in their next accounts.

It was also Whetstone who unearthed West Ham’s £69m Barclays deal which saw them borrow against every penny they were owed in transfer fees by other clubs to fund last summer’s £155m splurge.

And it is Whetstone who claims Spurs smell blood and are trying to take advantage of West Ham’s financial situation to sign Bowen.

He even states that West Ham might now consider a bid over £100m for Bowen.

Even if he thinks it is unlikely Levy will meet that demand.

Spurs preying on West Ham financial woes, claims insider

“Spurs will target Jarrod Bowen this summer to test West Ham’s resolve,” Whetstone claims on X.

“Ange Postecoglou is likely to be replaced before next season, but Daniel Levy will try to take advantage of the Hammers financial losses by trying to tempt them with an offer.

“Spurs would need to lodge a bid way in excess of £100m which appears unlikely knowing Levy’s track record.”

Levy recently responded to protesting Spurs fans but insisting the club ‘can’t spend what we don’t have’.

That will give Hammers fans some comfort.

But the fact there is even a slight possibility the Hammers hierarchy would consider selling Bowen to Tottenham if they bid the right amount is a sickening prospect for supporters.

And one that won’t go down well at all with an already agitated fanbase.

West Ham are doing everything they can to deliver Graham Potter’s ‘dream’ signing but Tottenham are making life very difficult.

The summer transfer window is nearly just six weeks away and there’s plenty of work to be done at West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

The London rivals share a lot in common this season – they’ve both been exceptionally bad.

Two points separate the Hammers and Spurs as they fight to avoid being the worst team outside the Premier League relegation places.

West Ham and Spurs face overhauls

Tottenham have lost a whopping 17 games to West Ham’s 15 – meaning two teams tipped to challenge for Europe have lost nearly an entire Premier League season’s worth of matches between them this term.

Ange Postecoglou looks finished in north London, unless Spurs somehow win the Europa League.

That leaves Daniel Levy in full control of Tottenham’s transfers this summer – just like David Sullivan at West Ham.

Both squads need a serious overhaul after their woeful underachievement.

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But Levy has warned Spurs fans the club ‘can’t spend what we don’t have’.

Meanwhile West Ham have made it clear sales are needed to fund signings due to the club reaching its PSR limit.

Logic suggests a vibrant free agent market will be where the Hammers and Spurs look to shop as a first priority.

And that is certainly the case according to football correspondent Graeme Bailey.

West Ham work on Potter’s ‘dream’ signing but Spurs ‘making it tough’

Because West Ham are working hard to deliver Graham Potter’s ‘dream’ signing but Spurs are ‘making it tough’.

West Ham have been talking to versatile England midfielder Angel Gomes over a summer move to east London.

The Lille star is out of contract at the end of the season.

Bailey revealed Graham Potter asked West Ham’s owners to bring him Angel Gomes this summer when he first took over in January.

West Ham have held negotiations with Gomes’ agents Gol International.

But Tottenham have been in the background for Angel Gomes too, putting pressure on any Hammers deal.

Gomes spoke out after the January window closed to say he has not made any decision on his next club and will assess proposals towards the end of the season.

As that draws ever closer there is an update from Bailey on the situation.

The journalist says West Ham are backing Potter by doing everything to get Gomes signed.

Better still the player is very much open to the idea – but there’s a problem.

Levy and Spurs are refusing to step away in the race for the Edmonton-born 24-year-old and that is proving attractive for Gomes as well.

Tottenham spoiling West Ham’s Angel delight

“The club are backing Potter that is for sure, they think he has had a positive impact on the squad and I am told the players are enjoying it,” Bailey exclusively told Hammers News.

“They want a striker, but they are looking at all aspects of the squad.

“I think the dream signing for them would be Angel Gomes – they think he would fit Potter’s style like a hand in a glove, and I believe Gomes would be open to it.

“But at this point it is a tough one because Spurs are working hard on him.”

Gomes was honest over his future when he spoke out to reassure Lille fans he wasn’t taking his eye off the ball while the season was still going on.

But he has been leaving negotiations to his agents in the meantime.

“I’m aware of clubs inquiring about my situation, but I’m now completely focused on Lille,” Gomes told Fabrizio Romano.

“I want to finish the season in the best way possible and then we will see what happens.

“I’m focused on the present and not on negotiations.”